The 'Game of Thrones' cast says goodbye to the show and their characters

Abigail Rosenthal, GateHouse Media

Monday

May 20, 2019 at 10:43 AM

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

For fans, saying goodbye to "Game of Thrones" is hard. For the cast, it's even harder.

A few cast members went to social media to pen their goodbyes to the HBO hit and the characters many of them played for years.

Emilia Clarke, who played Daenerys Targaryen, gave an emotional goodbye after the finale aired. She also gave an interview to the New Yorker talking about her experience of keeping her character's fate a secret for so long and what she thought of the ending.

"The mother of dragons chapter has taken up the whole of my adult life," Clarke wrote on Instagram. "This woman has taken up the whole of my heart. I’ve sweated in the blaze of dragon fire, shed many tears at those who left our family early, and wrung my brain dry trying to do Khaleesi and the masterful words, actions (and names) I was given, justice."

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Finding the words to write this post has left me overwhelmed with how much I want to say but how small words feel in comparison to what this show and Dany have meant to me. The mother of dragons chapter has taken up the whole of my adult life. This woman has taken up the whole of my heart. I’ve sweated in the blaze of dragon fire, shed many tears at those who left our family early, and wrung my brain dry trying to do Khaleesi and the masterful words, actions (and names) I was given, justice. Game of Thrones has shaped me as a woman, as an actor and as a human being. I just wish my darling dad was here now to see how far we’ve flown. But to you, dear kind magical fans, I owe you so much thanks, for your steady gaze at what we’ve made and what I’ve done with a character that was already in the hearts of many before I slipped on the platinum wig of dreams. Without you there is no us. And now our watch has ended. @gameofthrones @hbo #love #motherofdragonsoverandout

A post shared by @ emilia_clarke onMay 19, 2019 at 9:37am PDT

Sophie Turner, whose character Sansa Stark survived to the end and now serves as Queen in the North, shared the similar set photo.

"Sansa, thank you for teaching me resilience, bravery and what true strength really is," Turner wrote on Instagram. "Thank you teaching me to be kind and patient and to lead with love. I grew up with you. I fell in love with you at 13 and now 10 years on.. At 23 I leave you behind, but I will never leave behind what you’ve taught me."

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Sansa, Thank you for teaching me resilience, bravery and what true strength really is. Thank you teaching me to be kind and patient and to lead with love. I grew up with you. I fell in love with you at 13 and now 10 years on.. at 23 I leave you behind, but I will never leave behind what you’ve taught me. To the show and the incredible people who make it, thank you for giving me the best life and drama lessons I could have ever asked for. Without you I wouldn’t be the person I am today. Thank you for giving me this chance all those years ago. And finally to the fans. Thank you for falling in love with these characters and supporting this show right through till the end. I’ll miss this more than anything.

Lena Headey said her goodbyes after her character, Cersei Lannister, was killed in "The Bells."

RELATED: Over 10 million Americans could miss work Monday because of the 'Game of Thrones' finale

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There she goes. It’s been fun, and bonkers . I loved her. I am grateful for the opportunity. Massively thankful for your encouraging and supportive love along the way. And now her watch is ended (I know she’d never make it, Nights watch wouldn’t have her .. but still..)

Jacob Anderson (Grey Worm) shared a photo of his first and last day on set.

"Thank you to everybody that cared about (Grey Worm) and rooted for him," Anderson wrote on Instagram. "He was really scared at first, but you made him feel loved. He appreciates it. I asked him."

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1. First Day. 2. Last Day. GoT was like the craziest school trip ever. A 6 year Adventure Weekend. Grey Worm. You went from a robot to a real boy. I’m proud of you. I’ll miss you bud. Thank you to everybody that cared about him and rooted for him. He was really scared at first, but you made him feel loved. He appreciates it. I asked him. Huge shout out to the Targs team: Nats, Emilia, Conleth, Peter, Iain, Ian, Michiel, Reece, Ed, Kit, Liam. Thank you for making the days so fun. Here’s to every single department behind the scenes that worked to the bone to make this show. They worked tirelessly everyday to make this thing, and they never get shout outs and they know that but they do it anyway. Here’s to you, you ragtag bunch of talented clever rascals. I love ya’ll. Thank you. Game of Thrones ENDS tonight on @hbo AT 9pm and @skyatlanticuk at 2am. I hope you enjoy it.

John Bradley gave a peek at his first day on set as Samwell Tarly with a photo of his first rehearsal schedule from 2010.

"I’m glad I kept this," he wrote on Instagram. "I met so many people that week who have come to mean so much to me. Back then we couldn’t have known the journey we’d go on together. I wouldn’t swap that experience, or those people, for the world."

View this post on Instagram

So tonight we have our very last episode. It’s the final step of a long and wonderful journey. A journey that, for me, started at 10am on Monday 19th of July 2010. I know this because recently I found my rehearsal and prep schedule for season 1, week 1. This was given to me when I landed in Belfast for the first time, weeks before we even started shooting. Listed here is the rehearsal where I first met Kit, and the first time I wore the costume that’s seen me through 8 seasons. I’m glad I kept this. I met so many people that week who have come to mean so much to me. Back then we couldn’t have known the journey we’d go on together. I wouldn’t swap that experience, or those people, for the world. Enjoy the episode and thanks for everything. @gameofthrones @hbo #GOT

A post shared by John Bradley (@johnbradleywest) onMay 19, 2019 at 10:03am PDT

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